Shipwrecks can provide an important refuge for marine life in areas subject to heavy fishing pressure, despite being an unnatural part of the ecosystem.

Bottom trawling, which involves dragging nets across the seafloor, has a devastating impact on biodiversity, destroying whole ecosystems and pulling up many animals that weren’t intended to be caught.

However, fishing boats that use this practice often avoid shipwrecks, as they can represent a danger to the boat and gear.

“Shipwrecks…